LEETON’S Damian Harris will be looking to retain a certain title at this weekend’s MS Mega Swim.
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This year marks the fourth year the biennial event has been held in Leeton, with Mr Harris going for gold when it comes to being named the highest fundraiser of the swim. In the three previous events he has managed to fundraise his way to the top to be given the title.
Mr Harris said it was something he was aiming for again this year. “I’ve raised $2600 so far … hopefully I do get there again (being named the highest fundraiser),” he said.
“I got into it (the mega swims) through (organiser) Brian Munro who asked me to be part of his team and it’s gone from there. I like to help out.”
The MS Mega Swim will be held over a 24-hour period at the Leeton pool this weekend starting at noon on Saturday and concluding at noon on Sunday. Teams are required to have a swimmer in the water at all times, but it is not competitive swimming.
Participants can paddle their way through their laps anyway they like and it’s all for a good cause, according to co-organiser Brian Munro.
“All of the money goes towards helping people with MS,” he said. “It goes to MS Australia first and then through the Go for Gold scholarships is filtered back to people in our area.”
So far the Leeton event has raised about $15,000 ahead of the weekend, but the number of teams and participants are slightly down.
“Hopefully we have a few more register before the end of the week, but we aren’t worried,” Mr Munro said. “I expect by the end of the weekend we will have raised about $20,000. I find the 2am part to be the most relaxing..
“I don’t mind swimming under the lights when it’s quiet … you can just hear the ‘plop, plop, plop’ of people in the water and the murmured conversations of people solving all of the worlds problems at that hour.”
For more information visit http://www.msmegaswim.org.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.event&eventID=530.
I got into it (the mega swims) through (organiser) Brian Munro who asked me to be part of his team and it’s gone from there.
- Damian Harris